II MEF News

A Marine attempts to stop a simulated casualty from bleeding out from an abdominal laceration by applying bandages at Camp Lejeune N.C., March 10, 2016. Improvised explosive devices increase the risk of multiple-casualty situations due to their large area of impact. To prepare for a situation in which a corpsman needs assistance, treating injured Marines quickly, Marines go through the combat life-saver course to be able to provide similar life-saving care that a corpsman would administer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Luke Hoogendam/Released.) - A Marine attempts to stop a simulated casualty from bleeding out from an abdominal laceration by applying bandages at Camp Lejeune N.C., March 10, 2016. Improvised explosive devices increase the risk of multiple-casualty situations due to their large area of impact. To prepare for a situation in which a corpsman needs assistance, treating injured Marines quickly, Marines go through the combat life-saver course to be able to provide similar life-saving care that a corpsman would administer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Luke Hoogendam/Released.)

The guidon for Charlie Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, is displayed after the company’s deactivation ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 4, 2016. Charlie Company, activated in 1941, has taken part in some of the America’s largest battles to include World War II (Tarawa, Saipan), The Vietnam War, Operations Desert Storm and Shield, and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Fallujah).(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joey Mendez) - The guidon for Charlie Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, is displayed after the company’s deactivation ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 4, 2016. Charlie Company, activated in 1941, has taken part in some of the America’s largest battles to include World War II (Tarawa, Saipan), The Vietnam War, Operations Desert Storm and Shield, and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Fallujah).(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joey Mendez)

Maj. Gen. Walter L. Miller (right), commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, speaks to Lt. Col. Robert Bodisch, commanding officer of 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, about the progression of the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation, “Iron Blitz,” at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 22, 2016. Iron Blitz is a weeklong, large scale operation and combat-readiness evaluation used to test the battalion’s ability to integrate all aspects of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and function as a deployment-ready unit. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shannon Kroening) - Maj. Gen. Walter L. Miller (right), commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, speaks to Lt. Col. Robert Bodisch, commanding officer of 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, about the progression of the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation, “Iron Blitz,” at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 22, 2016. Iron Blitz is a weeklong, large scale operation and combat-readiness evaluation used to test the battalion’s ability to integrate all aspects of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and function as a deployment-ready unit. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shannon Kroening)

U.S. Marine Corps M1 Abrams tanks and Norwegian Leopard 2A4 Tanks rest in a field after training in Rena, Norway, Feb. 17,2016. The Marines and Norwegian Army are working together as part of Exercise Cold Response, a joint NATO and allied country exercise comprised of 12 countries and approximately 16,000 troops. The U.S. European Command appreciates the opportunity for taking part in such a large multinational exercise at the invitation of our Norwegian Allies; and we are especially thankful for the chance to put our skills to the test in unique cold weather conditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Chad McMeen/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps M1 Abrams tanks and Norwegian Leopard 2A4 Tanks rest in a field after training in Rena, Norway, Feb. 17,2016. The Marines and Norwegian Army are working together as part of Exercise Cold Response, a joint NATO and allied country exercise comprised of 12 countries and approximately 16,000 troops. The U.S. European Command appreciates the opportunity for taking part in such a large multinational exercise at the invitation of our Norwegian Allies; and we are especially thankful for the chance to put our skills to the test in unique cold weather conditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Chad McMeen/Released)

Sgt. Dereck Ford, a technician with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, teaches Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 2 how to power up and recalibrate a metal detector during an improvised explosive device training exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 23, 2016. CLB-2 Marines learned how to recognize signs of an IED and use the detector to identify the type of IED that may be present as they conducted hands-on training in preparation for their upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron K. Fiala/Released) - Sgt. Dereck Ford, a technician with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, teaches Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 2 how to power up and recalibrate a metal detector during an improvised explosive device training exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 23, 2016. CLB-2 Marines learned how to recognize signs of an IED and use the detector to identify the type of IED that may be present as they conducted hands-on training in preparation for their upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron K. Fiala/Released)

U.S. Marines and sailors with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade stabilize the neck of a notional Norwegian soldier casualty during combat casualty care at Rena, Norway, Feb. 17, 2016. About ten Marines from the unit form the shock trauma squad, which is designed to provide a second echelon of medical care to wounded service members when hospitals are either not available or unable to get to the patient in time. The two nations will team up for Exercise Cold Response 16, combining 10 other NATO allies and partner nations in order to enhance joint crisis response capabilities in cold weather environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lucas Hopkins/Released) - U.S. Marines and sailors with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade stabilize the neck of a notional Norwegian soldier casualty during combat casualty care at Rena, Norway, Feb. 17, 2016. About ten Marines from the unit form the shock trauma squad, which is designed to provide a second echelon of medical care to wounded service members when hospitals are either not available or unable to get to the patient in time. The two nations will team up for Exercise Cold Response 16, combining 10 other NATO allies and partner nations in order to enhance joint crisis response capabilities in cold weather environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lucas Hopkins/Released)

Lance Cpl. Jarod L. Smith, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, fires a mounted M2 Browning .50-caliber machine gun from the back of the MV-22B Osprey during a live fire training session off the coast of Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Feb. 10, 2016. Marines with VMM-365 flew to a landing zone, which allowed pilots to practice CALs in their Osprey’s and then flew several miles off the coast to practice their proficiency with the .50-caliber machine gun. (U.S. Marine Corp photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron K. Fiala/Released) - Lance Cpl. Jarod L. Smith, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, fires a mounted M2 Browning .50-caliber machine gun from the back of the MV-22B Osprey during a live fire training session off the coast of Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Feb. 10, 2016. Marines with VMM-365 flew to a landing zone, which allowed pilots to practice CALs in their Osprey’s and then flew several miles off the coast to practice their proficiency with the .50-caliber machine gun. (U.S. Marine Corp photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron K. Fiala/Released)

Marines with Bridge Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, prepare to unload two M1A1 Abrams tanks following their transport across New River by using a seven-bay raft system during a water-crossing operation at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 4, 2016. The unit boasts a wide range of raft systems and bridging that it is able to do to allow tactical vehicles to cross large bodies of water. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Damarko Bones/Released) - Marines with Bridge Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, prepare to unload two M1A1 Abrams tanks following their transport across New River by using a seven-bay raft system during a water-crossing operation at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 4, 2016. The unit boasts a wide range of raft systems and bridging that it is able to do to allow tactical vehicles to cross large bodies of water. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Damarko Bones/Released)

A Marine with Alpha Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, provides security as his squad conducts casualty evacuation drills during Mountain Exercise 1-16 at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., Jan. 15, 2016. Marines across II Marine Expeditionary Force and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade were taking part in the training in preparation for Exercise Cold Response 16 in Norway this March. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Dalton A. Precht/released) - A Marine with Alpha Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, provides security as his squad conducts casualty evacuation drills during Mountain Exercise 1-16 at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., Jan. 15, 2016. Marines across II Marine Expeditionary Force and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade were taking part in the training in preparation for Exercise Cold Response 16 in Norway this March. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Dalton A. Precht/released)